Warrington Café Faces Council Action for Misleading Food Hygiene Ratings
A Warrington café has been misleading customers with a five-star food hygiene rating, despite a recent inspection revealing significant shortcomings. Orford Perk, located on School Road in Orford, has been displaying this rating in its window for over a month, despite being found to require 'major improvement' in key areas.
The Food Standards Agency's inspection on September 3rd highlighted several areas of concern. The café's cleanliness and building condition were deemed 'generally satisfactory', but the hygienic handling of food, encompassing preparation, cooking, and storage, was found to need improvement. The management of food safety, including safety checks, was rated as 'majorly inadequate'.
As a result, the café received a one-star rating, indicating a need for 'major improvement' overall. Yet, the café has continued to display three five-star ratings in its window since the inspection, which is not only misleading but also illegal.
The Warrington Borough Council has been informed and has taken action. A spokesperson stated, 'The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is designed to provide clear information to consumers. When a business displays an incorrect rating, we take it seriously. We first contact the business to remove the inaccurate rating, and if they don't comply, we may consider further enforcement to protect the scheme's integrity.'
This incident underscores the importance of accurate food hygiene ratings and the legal consequences of displaying incorrect information. It also highlights the role of local authorities in ensuring the scheme's integrity and protecting public health.
